Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England, and has been the home of the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309, making this year the 700 year anniversary. The castle has been most recently used for the filming of harry potter. However there is a more chilling tale to be told about the Vampire that once frequented this castle.
The earliest mention of Alnwick Castle in the history books appears soon after 1096 when Yves de Vescy became baron of Alnwick and erected the earliest parts of the Castle. A one time lord of the estate who is said to have lived underneath it would emerge at night to attack the local villagers. Stories of the vampire creature soon took hold and an outbreak of plague was also attributed to the unholy creature, and this resulted in the villagers digging the monster up from its shallow grave and burning it.
Further evidence of the vampires was collected by William of Newburgh, who, in the twelfth century, collected a variety of accounts of vampires in England. One incident that occurred in his lifetime concerned a man who served the Lord of Alnwick Castle. The man, who was himself known for his wicked ways, was further plagued by an unfaithful wife. Having hidden on the roof above his bed to see her actions for himself, he fell to the ground and died the next day.
Could recent sighting of a tall hunched man in the castle grounds at night be the return of the vampire on this special aniversary of 700 years.
